This is our Morgan�s site. I as Morgan�s mother am writing this story of our Morgan. Though these words I put down here can nowhere begin to give meaning to the life of our daughter Morgan. When parents welcome a child into this world they never think they will have a memorial site to share their child with all. Parents feel their children will outlive them. It is not normal for a child to pass before their parent . But in some circumstances out of our control we as parents find ourselves releasing our child into God�s open arms much sooner than we want. This most definitely what the situation we found ourselves facing
Morgan was a planned and definitely wanted baby. My husband and I married August 29, 1982. He was in the Air Force and his first base was in Hampton VA, at Langley Air Force Base. This was the first time I had ever really been away from my mother and family. I thought I was ready for it, but I was not. I was so lonely and missed home in GA so much. I decided I needed and wanted a baby to fill my time. So, we set out trying to get pregnant, and we did so, immediately. We had a fairly easy pregnancy. No alarms during pregnancy or any complications with the baby.
Morgan was born on 8-13-1983, when she was born she was so small 5 pounds 7 ounces. We fond out shortly after she was born (when she was 10 days old) that she had a heart problem, but we did not know how severe it was until she was around 9 months old. At 9 months she had a heart catherization and the news the doctors gave to us was not good. They gave her only 6 months to live at the most. We immediately set out for more medical advice. We took her to the heart doctors in Birmingham Al at UAB and at 11 months old they did an experimental surgery on Morgan to extend her life. Morgan we were told had the most severe pulmonary stenosis they had seen. This surgery did give her the relief she needed at the time. Morgan continued to grow, slowly but she did grow. Morgan was always small. She looked younger than she actually was. Morgan had a sister (Meghan) who was 15 months younger than her, and Meghan outgrew Morgan in no time. Morgan was a loving and caring child. She sought to help anyone and everyone. Even though she received harassing from children she was the first to stand up for anyone. There is an incident I recall where there was a child who was being mainstreamed, ate lunch with Morgan�s class in the lunchroom. Morgan said the other children always kidded the child and made fun of her. One day the child asked for the ketchup and due to a speech problem the child could not say it clearly, the other children told her she could not have it until she said it right. Morgan came home so upset that the child was going through this every day at lunch. I called Morgan�s teacher and relayed what was happening, and thanks to Morgan it was put to a stop. This was how Morgan was, she cared for all people, even though she had to deal with people being cruel towards her a lot.
When Morgan was about 8 years old the doctors put a balloon into her artery to try and help Morgan some, but unfortunately this gave little relief to her. Though she still was able to do pretty much what she wanted. She stopped herself when she tired easy. Morgan wanted so desperately to play basketball, she so wanted to be a part of all she could. Her doctors had approved as long as stopped herself when she tired out. Morgan was thrilled! But the board over the basketball league stopped her from playing, she was devastated! They said they were concerned for her, and even though I had the doctor�s letter stating the limitations could be set by Morgan herself they would not allow her to play. Morgan was so hurt by this. The next year though she did play on a softball league. Her coaches there were wonderful. They knew her situation, and Morgan played very little, but the important thing for her was she was a part of the team. She was living a normal life for her. She so loved that year she was on the softball team. Her coaches gave her more than they will ever know Mr. Harrison, and Ms. Harrington gave our Morgan a part of life that she so needed. She was able to belong as normally as possible for her, and I want them to know their goodness will not go unnoticed.
In 1996 we noticed Morgan was tiring easier and we knew something was going to have to be done to help her out. We had always been told since she was a baby that there would be multiple procedures that would need to be done in order for Morgan to be able to live.
When Morgan entered the hospital for the procedure that ultimately took her life she had gotten to a point where she was tiring so easily we knew she needed some relief. Morgan went into the hospital for a what was to be only a one night stay. Ii was to be a simple procedure. She was to stay overnight only for observation, and I still to this day remember the doctor telling our Morgan that she would be home the next day playing ball. But unfortunately this was only the beginning of our nightmare. Instead of being home playing ball she was fighting for her life. The doctor decided to put 2 stints in Morgan instead of one. If he had of placed only one stint in and allowed her to adjust to this and have the second one at a later date we would still have our Morgan here today. After placing in the second stint everything went wrong. Morgan was rushed into an emergency surgery that lasted for over 8 hours. She pulled through the surgery and she was fighting for her life. Her hospital stay was one where they did take her off the ventilator and she was able to communicate with us, but she was in such pain, and not herself. After some complications she had to be put back on the ventilator, and everything just went down from there. On September 6, 1996 they explained to us they needed to do a type of clean up surgery on Morgan. The doctor told us he was almost sure Morgan would make it through the surgery, that she would just have a hard recovery from the curgery due to her weakened state. They started the surgery and they came out to tell us they had found internal bleeding, but then came out to say they had patched all and they were going to be bringing her out and for us to just wait and then we could go in and see her. Then a doctor came out to tell us they were having trouble but they were still working on her. They wanted us to go to the family room, which we did not want to. We knew going into the family room was not a good sign. We had seen too many other families go into that family room, and this was where they took you to give you the news that your child was not going to be coming back to you alive. After six weeks of fighting for life, Morgan could no longer go on. On September 6, 1996 (her daddy�s birthday) we lost Morgan. Our poor Morgan could fight no longer. The one comfort I have been able to hang onto is that Morgan is now in heaven with my father. I lost my father when I was at the age of 13. We buried Morgan by my daddy, and my knowing he was there to take my Morgan into his arms has been somewhat of a relief. My daddy was never able to be here on earth to love and hold any of my daughters, but I am sure he is and has been with Morgan in heaven since the day she left earth.
I remember very little of Morgan�s funeral. I do know there were many people there. A lot of children Morgan had gone to school with attended. The funeral home had even told us the school had called to see if we would have the funeral time late so therefore the school age children would be able to attend after school. We had it at 5:00 pm to accommodate them.
Morgan has 2 younger sisters Meghan who is 15 months younger than Morgan, and Maranda who was 8 � years younger than Morgan. Morgan�s death has been devastating for her sisters. We try to keep happy memories of Morgan. Maranda had a really hard time going to hospitals after Morgan died. She was totally quiet and subdued if we were in a hospital. She has gotten somewhat better, but she still remembers what happened.
Morgan will always be alive in our hearts and thoughts. There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of her. Though we have to trust God knew what he was doing, when he took her from us at such a young age.
Morgan is and will always continue to be a part of our family that we will never forget. We look to her as our Angel! Morgan is loved and missed by all. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her. She may not be with us in person, but she is and will always be with us in memory.
For anyone who met Morgan they will always remember her as a very special person.
  
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